Sarah’s is the first documented case of personalising a technique called deep brain stimulation to successfully treat depression. Deep brain stimulation is used to treat Parkinson’s disease and several other disorders, but isn’t approved by federal regulators for depression because results have been inconsistent. To identify the specific brain activity pattern linked to Sarah’s depression, researchers conducted an intensive 10-day exploration of Sarah’s brain, placing multiple electrodes in it and asking about her feelings when they applied stimulation to different locations in varying doses. While deep brain stimulation is typically delivered continuously, Sarah’s device is set to supply only a six-second burst when it recognises her depression-linked brain activity pattern. Deep brain stimulation wouldn’t be appropriate for all because it costs tens of thousands of dollars, and brain surgery to implant the device carries risks like infection.

Source: bd News24 October 05, 2021 05:03 UTC